Factors Influencing Tacit Knowledge in Construction

Abstract

Increased complexity of the construction business and consequentuse of new management concepts and technologies ledconstruction organisations to focus more on the transfer of explicitknowledge. However, it is the tacit knowledge that determinesthe construction companies’ competitiveness in a business thatis driven by turbulent market conditions and customers’ everincreasingdemands. This paper highlights the importance of tacitknowledge sharing in construction, explores the challenges andopportunities to efficiently share tacit knowledge, and based on theliterature review identifies some critical factors that influence tacitknowledge in construction. It is argued that employees’ knowledgesharing (learning) behaviours are influenced by work practices thatare borne by respective organisational behaviours. Organisational,cultural, and project characteristics that facilitate knowledgesharing among construction employees are explored and thepractices that influence the construction employee behaviour insharing tacit knowledge are highlighted.

Bennett, J. and Jayes, S. (1995), Trusting the Team. Centre for Strategic Studies in Construction, The University of Reading, UK, in Haksever, A. M., Demir, H. I., and Giran, O. (2001), 'Assessing the benefits of long-term relationships between contractors and subcontractors in the UK', International Journal of Construction Marketing, vol.3, no.1.

CERF (2000), 'Guidelines for moving innovations into practice'. Working draft guidelines for the CERF International Symposium and Innovative Technology trade show 2000, Civil Engineering Research Foundation, Washington, DC.

De Long (1997), Building the knowledge based organization: How cultures drives knowledge behaviors, Working paper, Center for Business Innovation, Boston, MA.

Egan, J. (1998), Rethinking Construction: Report of the Construction Task Force on the Scope for Improving the Quality and Efficiency of UK Construction, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), London.

Yisa, S.B. (1996). 'A review for changes in the UK construction industry: The implications for the marketing of construction services', European Journal of Marketing, vol.3, no.3, pp.47-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03090569610107427